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Make Money C329by MarineTL

“Oh? What’s the plan?”

Yao Beiguo quickly asked. He had been racking his brain for a solution but had come up empty. He hadn’t expected Tao Ze to come up with something in such a short time. It seemed his decision to come here had truly been the right one.

Tao Ze thought for a moment, then slowly spoke.

“The reason professional teams strive for results is simple: the club wants to build its reputation. And the reason for building that reputation is to leverage it for profit.”

“So at the end of the day, it all comes down to using fame to generate revenue.”

“But there’s actually a way to boost a club’s visibility without necessarily achieving great results.”

“What way? How can a club build a name for itself without winning anything?”

Yao Beiguo asked, puzzled. He couldn’t think of any method that would allow a club to gain recognition without placing well in competitions.

Tao Ze gave a knowing smile.

“Those retired professional esports players may not be as strong as they once were, but they still have one valuable asset: their popularity.”

“Many of these retired pros had solid careers and earned a fanbase. Even if their popularity has dropped a bit after retirement, they still have loyal fans.”

“We can absolutely use that to our advantage. Announce something like ‘So-and-so pro returns to the arena,’ or ‘Legendary veterans reunite for a comeback’…”

“With slogans like these, we’re bound to attract a lot of attention. And once enough people are watching, our club’s name will naturally spread.”

“We can ride that wave of hype to make a profit—land sponsorships, sell merchandise themed around the retired pros…”

“…”

As Tao Ze explained, Yao Beiguo gave it some serious thought. If they did things this way, they really could stir up a wave of buzz.

But that would just be hype—nothing more.

Once those retired players actually stepped onto the stage and failed to deliver results, the hype would vanish completely.

Yao Beiguo voiced his concerns.

Tao Ze didn’t argue. Instead, he continued.

“Even a single wave of hype is enough. After all, we’re a brand-new gaming club. Just getting our name out there is already a big step.”

“And if we can make money off that initial buzz, isn’t that a win?”

“But what happens after the hype dies down? What do we do with those retired pros? If they keep playing and still don’t get results, we’re back to square one.”

Yao Beiguo was still unsure. If this was just a temporary buzz, it didn’t solve the core issue. Once the hype faded, the club would be right back where it started.

“That’s why we have to take it step by step. We can gradually bring in some new blood, and have the veterans mentor them. Bit by bit, we rotate the roster. The old pros can transition into coaching roles.”

Tao Ze sighed. Even he wasn’t entirely sure how to handle the retired players.

He couldn’t figure out what President Chen of the conglomerate was thinking, being so fixated on bringing those veterans back.

“I guess that’s the only way.”

Yao Beiguo nodded. At least now they had a direction to work toward.

“Let’s put that aside for now. First, we need to finalize the location for the gaming club and start setting up the computers and other equipment.”

“I actually have a place in mind. Near my old workplace, there’s a tech park with a seven-story office building for lease. The size and location are both great.”

“I doubt it’ll be rented out anytime soon. We should go take a look.”

Tao Ze recalled the place and spoke slowly.

“Alright, I’ll go check it out right away.”

Yao Beiguo couldn’t sit still anymore. Securing a location was a top priority. Only once the club was established could they move on to the next steps.

…

A few days later,

At Mingri Group.

Chen Mo frowned slightly as he looked over the budget report in his hands.

“President Chen, is there something wrong with the report?”

Yao Beiguo asked nervously, noticing the furrow in Chen Mo’s brow.

“Yes.”

Chen Mo nodded and looked up at Yao Beiguo seated across from him.

“I’ve said before, the club’s setup needs to be top-tier. But this budget plan is still too conservative. It’s not bold enough.”

“The location is fine. That seven-story office building is a good choice, and the annual rent is only twenty million. But you only leased it for one year? That’s too short. Start with a two-year lease. Otherwise, when the lease is up next year, renewing it will be a hassle.”

“And about the computers and furniture—your specs are basically on par with what our regular office employees use. That’s not going to cut it.”

“This is for gaming. The hardware requirements are much higher. Here’s what we’ll do: I’m giving you a budget of 80,000 yuan per computer. Find a professional to handle the builds. As for the chairs, upgrade those too. Get something higher-end.”

“And make sure to recruit those retired professional players too. Don’t be too stingy with the compensation.”

Hearing President Chen’s words, Yao Beiguo didn’t react right away. He noticed the frown on President Chen’s face and thought he had gone overboard with the budget.

But to his surprise, the issue wasn’t that the budget was too high—it was that it was too low.

This…

He had worked at four different gaming clubs, and this was the first time he’d met a boss who thought the budget was too conservative.

“President Chen, if we go by that, the budget would more than double. Isn’t that a bit much?”

“It’s not too much. Just follow the requirements I gave you.”

Chen Mo pushed the proposal back toward Yao Beiguo without hesitation.

Too much?

He wished it could be even more. Even after doubling the budget, it only came out to 70 million. That was still 30 million short of his ideal 100 million.

But there was no helping it. This was already close to the club’s maximum expenditure.

Yao Beiguo took the revised budget proposal. Since President Chen had made himself clear, there was nothing more to say.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional. This President Chen was nothing like any of the bosses he’d worked with before!

“Right, the gaming club needs renovations, doesn’t it? I’ll give you a contact. Just reach out to him for the renovation work. Mention my name—he’ll know what to do.”

Chen Mo suddenly remembered that the renovation part of the budget hadn’t been settled yet. Might as well go with Wang Yang.

Wang Yang was a solid choice—and he always gave him red envelopes.

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